Police Corruption

Running Head: POLICE CORRUPTION

Police Corruption

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Police Corruption

Introduction

Police corruption refers to specific forms of police misbehaviour. Police officers normally engage themselves in corruption to be able, for example, to obtain financial benefits among other personal gains. They also engage in corruption to be able to advance in their career. Corruption in the police force also arises when they selectively pursue arrest or investigation. A common form of corruption in many police department is asking for or accepting bribes. This can be in exchange for not turning a drug dealer in or reporting other criminal activities. Another common form of misconduct in the police department is violation of their code of conduct. Police officers do this to be able to convict an individual even if he or she is not guilty, for instance, falsifying evidence. There even incidences where police officers go to the extent of organizing crimes themselves. This paper intends to investigate police corruption in the context of Immanuel Kant and his Categorical Imperative philosophy (Banks, 2004).

Police Corruption the context of Immanuel Kant and his Deontological philosophy

Deontology is an ethical approach which focuses on how an actions or behaviours is right or wrong in themselves. This is opposed to determining if an action is right or wrong depending on the consequences of the actions. With this being the case, a situation is concluded to be bad or good depending on if the action that brought it is right or wrong. Actions are categorised as right if they conform to moral norms. Many individuals view deontology as obligation or duty based. For example, in the case of police ethical rules bind them while on duty (Souryal, 2011).

The concept of deontological philosophy was forwarded by Immanuel Kant. According to him, the highest good should be good in itself. This is without any qualification. Kant concluded that only those actions chosen out of an individual feeling a moral duty are truly good. Kant derived the principle of categorical imperative from this concept. According to this principle actions that deemed right should be obeyed at all times and in all situations. This is regardless of desires or the consequences that will arise from the action or behaviour. The principle also states that a people's actions should be as a result of a motive of duty. If this is not the case, then it can be concluded that the action lacks moral value (Kleinig, 2008).

Police actions should have a sense of duty in them. Their actions or behaviours should not be motivated by their individual desires. However, this is normally not the case. Most of them are motivated to behave in a certain manner if the consequences of their actions make them happy. Police officers, for example, accept bribes because the consequences of this action favour them. One, for instance, cannot argue that it good for them to accept or solstice bribes because they have a low income and that bribes allow them earn a better living. According to Kant an action is right if it conforms to moral norms. Bribery is wrong in itself. This is an action that everyone accepts that it is wrong. With this being the case, it is wrong for police officer to ask or receive bribes. (Banks, 2004)

Police officers ask or accept bribes for various reasons. For example, they may accept bribes in exchange for withholding evidence. This undermines the prosecution process. A criminal, for instance can be set free on the basis